Hello everyone! It's Steven here with another entry.

For today's blog post, I would like to discuss something fascinating which you may all be familiar with... the English language!

Did you know that the English language is actually a mix of different languages all rolled into one? As you can see in the pie chart, over half of all English words are derived from French or Latin, while a quarter have Germanic roots, with some words making their way from Greek! This is no doubt via the great Golden Age of Greece some 2,500 or so years ago, prior to the rise of the Roman Empire. Speaking of which, the Latin language was their primary language and it was the English language of its day. The Roman Empire has almost certainly had the greatest influence on European culture with the widespread dispersal of its language, culture and technology throughout its reign.

In the brilliant and inspiring history of my country, Great Britain or United Kingdom, its native language developed as a consequence of constant invasions and battles with different nations and cultures which sought after the idyllic British Isles, with its obvious strategic advantages. One language family which has not been mentioned here in the pie chart is the Celtic language family and those native to Britain, such as the existing Gaelic languages (both Irish and Scottish variations) and also Welsh. These are in fact the native languages of Britain, however as a consequence of the English kingdom's power and success, the Celtic languages are secondary in importance. Perhaps their influence on English itself is minor but they still exist today. However, in Wales, great efforts have been made to sustain interest in their native tongue, resulting in the Welsh Language Act of 1993, ensuring it is taught in schools and seen in public destinations. It is inspiring to see that they have maintained pride in their native roots! If you ever find yourself driving around the rolling hills and valleys of Wales, some roads are marked with 'Araf' which means 'Slow' - meaning you need to slow down and enjoy the views!

That's all from me! I hope you find English as fascinating as I do!

Thanks for reading!

Steven Dodd